Recoil shock-absorber.



H. F. UIERCKS.

RECOIL SHDCK ABSORBER.

H'vLlcATIox mw sAN.x5.\s1.

1,204,253. Y Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

HENRY F. DIEBCKS. OF ALGONQUINQILLINOIS.

Recon; sHocx-Aiisonnn.

Specification of Letters Patent.'

Patented Nov. 7, 19ML Application filed January 15, 1916. Serial No. 72,312.

To all idiom 'it may Concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. Dickens, :i citizen of the United States, residing at Algonquin, in the county of McHenry and Stute of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Recoil Shock- Absorbers, of which the following is e specification.

This invention relates to the general subject of shock absorbers for vehicles, and has special reference to ii novel improvement in recoil check devices that are particularly adapted for useon motor ciirs,

A primary object of the present invention is to provide :i simple and reliable device which comes into play when the body of the vehicle rises or rebounds, to thereby prevent such a. sudden upward movement or rise of the body as would be likely to break the springs of the vehicle. As is Well known` there'is greet strain imposed upon the ordinary springs when the 'body of the car rises or bounds upwardiy, and often this strein is so great that the springs are ruptured or, broken. Accordingly, the present invention proposes to provide a device which muy be relied upon to etlectually check the upward 'movenieiitof the vehicle body and thus protect the springs from damage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a, icombined metallic and pneumatic cushioning device which affords maximum resiliency, and consequently :il greater degree of eliiciencyin counteraeting the relatively opposite movements o f the iixle and body,

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple construction and arrangement of parts whichv may be easily and economically manufactured, and may also be readily assembled and taken apart to thereby facilitate cleaning, adjustments, or repairs when necessary. i

lith the above and other objects in View which will more readily appear as the niiture of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction. combination and arrangement of parts hercinaftcr more fully described, illustra-teil and claimed. t

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1` is n rear elevation of a portion 0f la, motor Vehicle showing the applicalwould otherwise be possible.

tion of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a. longitudinal sectional view thereof. Vig. 3 is a. detail perspective view of roller :ibutineiit blocks. Fig, 4 is un enlarged detail sectional view of the vaivcd pluni'er. F is :in enlarged cro section nu the line 5-'5 oflfig. 2. t

Similar reference chariiciers designate corresponding parte throughout the several figures of the drawings. A In carrying out the present invention, it' is proposed to provide a construction having the novel characteristic of a shock absorbing medium arranged in a horizontal plane, or parallel to the bottom of the vehicle body, and a flexible iixle connection having a. portion which is adapted to work in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of the shock absorbing medium, thereby utilizing to the best possible adventage the relatively small space usually existing between the velicle body und the springs while at the saine time providing for the use of a. much stronger and more eliicient shock absorbing medium than Accordingly, as will be observed from the drawings, the

present invention includes in its organization a recoil shock absorbing device carried in a horizontal 4position on the underside of the cur body conveniently located with respect to the axle with which it isintended to be used. This'deviee-is designated 'genorally by the reference character S, and is preferably employed in pairs as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thai: is to Say, in order to obtain the best distribution of strain and wear, it is pre rred to place one of these devices adjacent each of the usual vehicle springs, the saine of Course being connected with the rear axle by means which will hereinafter be more fully set forth in detail. This deviceS preferably comprises u tubular casing orlshe l 1 which is cxteriorly threaded at one end to receive the interiorly threaded flange Qtof an end closure Cap 3, and is also exteriorly threaded at the op posits end to receive the internally threaded flange 4 of the roller Supporting bracket 5. These members 3 and 5 thus constitute a support for each end of the casing 1, und are i'ireferably provided with i'ivcrsely llisposeil attaching cars 6 which are capable of receiving suitable fasteiiin': elements i' to.- :ittucliing and holding the casing in :i horithat the same is preferably provided with-if the parallel extension arms 8 which are adapted to receive `therebetween a roiler 9 lmounted on a transverse axle 10 having an end bearing in each of the arms. This axle may be provided with a suitable grease cup 11 as shown in Fig. 3 to supply sufficient lubricant to the roller to insure its freedom of movement at all times. The main wall 12 of the bracket 5 is provided with a clearance slot 13 which is arranged in such a position that it provides an ,approximately central outlet for the efasing 1, and also permits of the periphery of the roller 9 being freely accessible for contact with a flexible axle connectingr strap 14. This axle connectingr strap is provided at its exposed erid with an axle embracing loop 15, and after passing over the roller 9 passes through the clearanc'e slot 13 into the interior of the casing 1 where its opposite end is secured as at 1G to the pirated bail 17 of a plunger device designated in its entirety by the reference 18. Th'i's plunger device is slidable in the casing 1, and works against the tension of a 'relatively stout coil spring 19, which is con fined between one sideof the plunger and the inner face of the wall 12 of the roller supporting bracket 5. Thus, it will be apparent that as the body of the vehicle rises upwardly, it will be resisted by the spring 19, owing to the fact that the fiexible axle connecting strap 14 is respectively secured to the plunger and axle while its intermediate portion rides over the roller Tn connection with the plunger device 18, it will be observed that the same essentially comprises a hollow shank 2() having the bail 17 carried at one` end, and a suitable plunger head at the other end which preferably includes an internally threaded nipple 21 which screws onto the end of the shank 20, and is also provided with a clampingr flange 22 and the externally threaded portion 22% A felt or equivalent washer cup 23 whose edge portion 'contacts with the inside of thc casing is clamped to the flange 22 by means of a suitable clamping ring 24 which threads onto the threaded portion 22 of the base. This ring is also provided with a skeletonlike valve cage portion 25, aiid surrounds the open end of the shank 20, the edge 26 of which forms a valve seat and is also in communication with the interior of the cylindes through the openings 27 in the wall of the hollow shank 20.

suitable valve memberQQ carried by a valve stem 30 normally rests on the valve scat :2G/while the stem thereof is guided at one end iin the head portion oi thc skeletonlike cagi 25 and its opposite end is loosely guided in the bushing 31 within the hollow shank 20. The said valve member 29 is normally held onto its scat by means` of a coil spring 32 arranged on the stem 5 lined between one side of the valve and the abutment face 33 oi' the head of the cage 25. From this arrangement. it will be clear that when the spring 19 is compressed b v the rebound or upward rise oi the vehicle, the plunger device 18 will be pulled in the cylinder in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, thus opening the valve 29,

and destroying the vacuum which would be brought about in the space u at the end of the casing 1, and at the same time permittying the free and unhindered action of the Spring 19.`

` 'lVhen the vehicle returns to its normal position, the spring 1%) would tend to push the plunger 18 to its normal position, and as the valve 29 becomes closed, the said plunger will return to its normal position against the air cushion in the chamber or space a: without shock or jar, but suiiiciently rapid to insure the spring' 19 extendingr to its full length to impose the normal force thereof on the plunger head 18, whereby it may be prepared for a succeeding operation. If desired, the valve member 29 may be provided with a relatively small opening or openings 29 to facilitate the return ofthe plunger to its normal position by permitting the. gradual escape of air caged in the chainbcr w.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a recoil shock absorbing construction which essentially comprises a recoil shock absorbing device including a reciprocating plunger adapted to operate against the t'nsion of the coil spring in one directionl and' against an air cushion in the opposite direction; and which plunger movement is brought about by means of a flexible axle connecting strap which has one cud connected thereto, and the opposite end connected to one of the axles of the vehicle while the intermediate portion freely rides over a roller abutment .i. This arrangement is not only advantageous because itmadmits of the use of a much larger spring and consequently affords a much greater resiliency, than if the spring were arranged vertically, but at the same' time provides for the proper working of the spring.,r under all conditions. That is to say, it provides for distributing the strain equally over thc entire spring, because it always pulls on the center or on a line parallel to the axis thereof. there being no possibility of the connection ranting or slauting away from the c'cntcr cr axis of the coil on account ot' its passing over the roller, thus insuring greater freedom and more positive action of thc spring under all service conditions.

i() and con-f Without further description, it is thought character described, the combination with that the many features and advantages of n tubular easingT open at one ond and havthe present invention will be readily' apin a closed air cushion chamber at the parent to those familiar with the art, and it ot ier end, of a spring pressed plunger deft will also lie understood that various changes vice arranged within the easing and inc-lud` in the form, proportion, and minor details of in'g a flexible axle connector passing out. of construction may he resorted to wit-hout desaid open en d, and a hollow plunger head parting from the spirit of the invention or having an annular abutment flange and a Scope of the appended claims. threaded nipple portion providing a valve I claim: seat, a valve cage member having' an in- 1. In n shdck absorbing device of the teriorly threaded clamping ring portion for ev-haraeter described, the eon1binalion\\'ith a engaging'with said threaded nipple, a flexlulrular easing,r open at oner end and havingr iblc washer Cup having,T a portion thereof a closed air cushion chamber at the other clamped between said annular abutment nd` of a spring pressed plunger deviee'ar- .flange and the Vringof the valve cage, and ranged within the easing, Said plunger dea 1ralve member yieldably held on said valve rire comprising a hollow head having a seat and having a guiding engagement in valve seat at one end and a loop element at the valve cage.

the other, a valve cage member detaebably In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my litted to said plunger head and surroundln'br signature 1n the presence of two witnesses.

the valve seat thereof, a washer member T r1 clamped between said valve cage and plun- HENR F' DIERGIXS' ger head, and a valve yieldably held between Witnessesz the valve cage and said valve seat. B. C. GE'rznLMaN,

2. In a shock absorbing device ofthe Geo. D. KEYES. 

